Collapsible display form for footwear



Jan. 15, 1957 Filed MarCh 50, 1955 w. N. NORMAN 2,777,216

COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY FORM FOR FOOTWEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEJ'V TOR.

Jan. 15, 1957 Filed March $0-, 1955 W. N. NORMAN COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY 'FORM FOR FOOTWEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States PatentOtiice 2,117,216 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 cOLLAPslBLE DISPLAY FORM FOR FOOTWEAR William N. Norman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ripon Knitting Works, Ripon, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsm Application March 30, 1955, Serial No. 497,894

8 Claims. (Cl. 35-57) This invention relates to improvements in display forms for footwear land more particularly to -a novel collapsible cardboard form sui-table for displaying slipper socks and the like.

Although footwear display forms of various types have been Widely lused heretofore for displaying socks and the like, such display forms have been characterized by Ia rigid molded construction which is relatively heavy and expensive. Accordingly, there has been a delinite need for a lightweight inexpensive footwear `display form which is also easy t-o ship and to use.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved display form for footwear which is relatively che-ap and of lightweight construction.

A further object of lthe invention i's to provide a novel collapsible footwear display form made of cardboard or the like.

Another Object of the invention is vto provide an inexpensive collapsible foot form which is especially adapted for displaying slipper socks and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description taken in conjunction with'the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foot form comprising one specific embodiment of the invention, the larticle being illustrated in assembled condition with a slipper sock fitted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side eleva-tional View of the assembled form;

Fig. 3 is a front end view as seen from the left-hand end of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the assembled form;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the form in collapsed condition suitable for shipping;

Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the collapsed form as seen from the left-hand end in Fig. 5

Fig. 7 -is a rear end View of the form in partially assembled condition; y

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view as taken along 4the line 8 8 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a plan View on a reduced scale of the blank comprising ythe form in spread apart condition.

Broadly speaking, the novel collapsible foot form comprising the invention consists of a unitary sheet of lightweight foldable material such `as cardboard which is shaped to provide a pair of matching foot and ankle panels integrally hinged together at -the upper portion lthereof and having means for holding the bottom edges thereof in 'spread apart relation when the form is assembled. Thus, the hinged panels can 'be disposed atwise against each other in collapsed condition of the article land can be assembled t-o provide a generally tri-angular body adapted to have a slipper sock or similar article of footwear fitted thereover for displaying the same.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a collapsible cardboard foot form 11 comprising one 'specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated in 'assembled condition with a slipper sock 12 fitted thereover in display position.

The slipper sock 12 is of a well known type having a knitted upper portion 13 vsecured to a soft leather lower or sole portion 14. As thus assembled, the foot form holds the slipper sock 12 in distended relation simulating the appearance of the article on the foot of a wearer, and the footwear can thus be displayed attractively on la store counter or in a showcase or show-window.

The display form consists of a unitary ysheet of lightweight foldable material such 'as cardboard, the complete sheet `or blank being shown in spread apart condition in Fig. 9 prior to folding and assembly thereof. Thus, the blank or sheet is shaped to provide a pair of complementarypanel port-ions 16 `and 17 each of which is designed in this instance to -simulate an ankle and foot portion.- The panels 16 and 17 have an integral fol'dable connection along a score line 18 so that the two panels are hingedly connected lalong t'he top edge of the ankle portions to permit atwise collapsing of the display form with the panels in vside-by-side relation as illustrated in Figs. 5 Iand 6. For limi-ting the extent to which the panels 16 and 17 may be spread apart during assembly Iof the article into display condition, the panel 17 is provided with a flap or tab 19 foldably connected along a score line 21 to the instep portion of the panel 17. This tap 19 is bent over and permanently secured, as 'by a suitable adhesive or the like, to the corresponding instep portion of the opposite ankle and foot panel 16. The instep portion of the latter is cut away or recessed slightly, as at 22, in order to receive the folded over portion of the connecting tab 19 thereby providing 'a smooth unbroken instep line as seen in Figs. 2 and 5.

For interconnecting the lower edges of the ankle Iand foot panels 16 and 17 and for holding the same in spread apart relation during assembled condition of the display form, I provide a pair -of cooperating foldable sole flaps integrally connected to the panels 16 and 17. Thus, the panel 16 has an elongated tapered -sole ap 22 foldably connected to the bottom edge of the panel 16 along =a score line 23 and extending from a point 'adjacent the heel of the panel 16 and terminating rearwardly of the toe portion of the panel 16. A pair of spaced idie cut areas 24 are provided along the fold line 23 so as to form slots Or openings along the hinged connection 23` when Ithe sole flap 22 is folded inwardly relative to the panel 16 during assembly of the article. The opposite panel 17 has a complementary tapered sole ap 26 foldably secured along a score line 27 to the bottom edge of the panel, but in this instance the sole flap 26 extends from the heel of the panel 17 completely to the end of the toe portion of the panel 17. The sole ilap 26 also carries a pair of foldable tabs 2S which are receivable in the slots formed by the die cut areas 24 in the opposite panel (Fig. 8).

As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the display form can be collapsed in completely ilattened condition for shipping purposes, the respective halves 16-22 and 17-26 of the display form being connected across the top of the `ankle portion at 18 and also across the instep portions by the adhesively -secured tab 19. To assemble the article for display purposes, 'the respective sole aps 22 and 26 are folded inwardly toward each other along the fold lines 23 and 27, respectively, while the bottom edges of the ankle and foot panels 16 and 17 are spread apart -so that 4the body of the form assumes la generally triangular conguration. As best seen in Fig. 7, the inwardly folded sole flaps 22 and 26 are arranged in overlapping relation 4with the flap 26 underlying the ap 22, and thereafter the connecting tabs 28 on the ap 26 lare inserted through 'the Islots formed by the `die-cut areas 24 as seen in Fig. 8 thereby interlocking the sole aps and retaining the bottom portions of the ankle and foot panels in spread apart display relation.

For contributing to the simulated ankle and foot appearance of the device when in display condition, `the forward ends of `the panel 16 and 17 `are rounded to provide toe portions 29 and 3l, respectively. Likewise, the forward end of the lowermost sole tiap 26 is rounded, as at 32, in the same general manner as the toe portions 29 and 31. Thus, when the form is completely assembled the triangulnrly related toe portions 29, 31 and 32 provide in effect a plurality of intertting generally goreshaped members which can be pressedtogether in converging rel-ation to conform to the restricted contines of the toe portion of a slipper sock or similar article of footwear. ln this connection the sole tlap 22 is somewhat shorter than the ap`25 so that the toe portion '32 of the latter projects beyond the forward end of the iiap 22 for greater tiexibility of the toe portion .32. As will also be evident from the drawings, the panels 16 and i7 are rounded, as at 33, to simulate `the heel portion of the foot.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my Iinvention provides an inexpensive lightweight collapsible foot form which can be shipped easily and can at the same time be assembled rapidly for eective display ot footwear. ln displaying a slipper sock 12 of the type seen in Fig. l, the upwardly projecting ankle portions of the panels 16 and 17 may carry suitable advertising tent or indicia. ln addition, the ankle portions may be provided with `an aperture 34 for tying on an identifying or price tag. For displaying other types of footwear, it will be understood that the upwardly extending ankle portion of the form may be somewhat longer to provide a leg portion when necessary.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular structural embodiment thereof, `it is to be understood that various modifications and yalternative structures may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in t-he appended claims.

l claim:

l. A footwear display form comprising a pair of complementary panels having the shape of an ankle and foot, means foldably connecting `the panels adjacent the upper portions thereof so as to permit the form to be collapsed with the panels disposed atwise `against each other, foldable sole flaps at the lower portions of said panels adapted to be folded inwardly toward each other, and means for securing the folded sole aps in overlapping relation for 4 holding the lower portions of said panels in spread apart relation.

2. A collapsible display form for footwear comprising a pair of panel-s each simulating the shape of an ankle and foot `and integrally hinged together adjacent the upper portion thereof, land integral ap means at the bottom edge of at least one ofsaild panels and foldable transversely of the panels `for `securing the lower portions of the panels in spaced relation whereby to provide Aa display body of generally triangular cross-section.

3. A collapsible display forni for footwear comprising a pair of ankle and foot simulating panels, means hingedly connecting said panels adjacent the upper edges thereof to permit -collapsing of the panels, and means integral with the panels for detachably holding the lower edges of the panels in spread lapart relation whereby to provide an assembled display body of i generally triangular crosssection.

4. A footwear display form comprising a pair of flat panels each simulating Athe shape of an ankle and foot with an instep portion, said panels having an integral foldable connection adjacent the ankle -to permit collapsing of the panels flatwise Iagainst each other, means hingedly connecting said panels together across the instep portions thereof, and collapsible means for holding the bottom edges of sa'id panels in spread apart relation during assembled condition of the form.

5. The article of claim 4 further characterized in that said collapsible means comprises a pair of sole flaps foldably connected to said panels and adapted to extend in overlapping relation between the bottom edges of said panels.

6. The article of claim 4 further characterized in that said first-named means comprises a foldable tab extending from one of said panels and fastened to the other of said panels.

7. The article ot claim 1 further characterized in that said last-named means comprises detachable interlocking tab and slot portions.

8. The Varticle of claim 2 further characterized in that said panels and said flap means are formed with generally gore-shaped forward end portions adapted to be pressed into converging relation for simulating a toe portion.

No references cited.

uni-w. 

